Tuesday, February 1 2005 16:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Ahead of a fresh round of talks with the Centre, NSCN-IM (National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak Muivah) today (Feb 1, 2005) said both sides could come closer and a honourable solution could be found to the Naga problem if the Government moved forward beyond recognising the uniqueness of their history.

For the first time in over 50 years the previous Vajpayee Government had recognised the "uniqueness" of Naga history.

"This is a forward step ... When the actual ground conditions are recognised, both parties can come closer. That is the only way we can move towards a solution," NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah said in an interview to reporters.

Muivah, who will hold talks with the Government along with NSCN-IM chairman Issac Swu from Thursday (Feb 3, 2005), said, "The Nagas must appreciate the difficulties of the Government. Likewise the Government should also understand and appreciate the rights of the Nagas."

After three decades in exile, the two leaders held first negotiations with then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and others in India during January 2004. But several rounds of discussions with officials have been held abroad.

"We are not demanding anything from you (Government). We will respect India so long as the Nagas are respected," he said.

Observing that the British had divided the Naga people and the subsequent Governments had continued with the same approach, Muivah said, "Nagas have for time immemorial lived in their own territory, not in the land of Meiteis or the Ahoms".

"Keeping the Nagas divided by the British and subsequent Indian Governments has hurt their sentiments beyond words. The wound is still very much there... We don't claim an inch of the land of the Meiteis or the Assamese or the Arunachalese. If the Nagas express their desire to live as one what is wrong? This is legitimate and not against anyone's interest," the top NSCN-IM leader said.

"Let the (Naga) people decide. If they want to live with the Meiteis or the Assamese, let them do so. ... The problem has been created by the British and followed by the subsequent Governments. The Government must solve this problem," he asserted.

Asked whether the Naga people had given them a "mandate" to carry forward the talks, he referred to the recent two-day conference at 'Camp Hebron' in Nagaland and said a resolution was adopted at this meeting in which the Nagas from all over the North Eastern region and all other major tribes "overwhelmingly participated".

"There was overwhelming enthusiasm ... they supported not only by raising hands, but also shouted slogans in favour. They expressed total support for an honourable political solution on the basis of the uniqueness of Naga history and situation," Muivah said.

The resolution, adopted at the 'Camp Hebron' meet, also maintained that, "unification of all Naga areas is legitimate and therefore non-negotiable" and said a "political solution should be found through peaceful means".